Williams, veterans' struggles too important to ignore

There are not many deaths, outside of those of family and friends, that cause us to stop what we're doing and reflect on the news. But such was the case Monday evening when the country was shocked by the death of Robin Williams.

For many of us, Williams was a face of inspiration and laughter. Young and old alike enjoyed his work as a comedian, actor and vocal talent. And as many of us took to social media to remember his life and career, we did so with equal doses of sadness and gratitude.

Despite all of the joy he brought to the world, Williams was reportedly struggling with depression. As the news spread that he took his own life at age 63, many were left asking what could have been done to prevent this.

For Williams' family and friends, we extend our deep condolences and our thanks for the gift he shared with us.

Southwest Missouri is no stranger to the extreme pain and loss that comes with suicide.

We've seen it far too much. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Greene County has averaged over 14 suicides per 100,000 from 2004-10. This is inline with the Missouri average, and higher than the national rate.

This past Sunday, veteran and News-Leader columnist Jess Rollins told the story of veterans who continue to struggle with life following service to our country.

"How many close calls have we never heard of?" Rollins wrote. "Counting the bodies of dead veterans is easy. The number of those quietly struggling is harder to figure."

Now is not the time to continue the debates of the morality of suicide or the legalization of assisted suicide. We must take this opportunity to renew the discussion of how we can best help our fellow Spring­fieldians who are struggling with suicidal thoughts.

As the VA system is being rebuilt, we encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs to step up their efforts to help those who served in the armed forces. We urge our lawmakers to make the necessary funding available.